Topic: Middle East

Kuwaiti Police Sweep Cafes, Arrest 215 People for Being Gay

Dan_Nolan9 / Twitter

More than two hundred gay men and lesbians were recently arrested in Kuwait after an intense investigation of "Internet cafes and suspicious places" across the country, The Kuwaiti Times reported early Monday morning.

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 30, 2013

Hezbollah's Thinking About Joining the Syrian Civil War

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is running his mouth about Syria again, only this time the Assad ally sounds like he's actually getting ready to make a move.

Comments | 1,774 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Nov 28, 2012

Trimming the Times

Facebook's New Money Trail, 'Conversion Therapy,' and Marvin Miller

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 299 Views

Israel-Palestine Ceasefire Now In Effect

The Palestinians and Israelis have brokered a cease fire agreement that went into effect at 9 p.m. Cairo time, but bombs were launched until the last possible minutes and now we're waiting to see if this thing sticks. 

Comments | 1,428 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 23, 2012

The Middle East Green Building Movement Will Start with Qatar

Qatar doesn't make sense. On one hand, the tiny Gulf country has the highest per capita emissions in the world and has more gas and oil than it knows what to do with. On the other, it's a pioneer in the Gulf's green building movement (yes there is a green movement in the Gulf) and be the first top oil producer in history to host the U.N. Climate Change Conference in November.

Comments | 172 Views

By Serena Dai

Sep 18, 2012

Jon Stewart on When Conservative Pundits Promoted Arab Democracy

When the U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens was killed by protesters last week, conservative pundits took the opportunity to condemn Obama's attempts to encourage Muslim nations to embrace democratic change.

Comments | 2,029 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Sep 17, 2012

Trimming the Times

Voter Fraud, Video Replay, and 'Revolution'

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 707 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Aug 2, 2012

Trimming the Times

Romney's Middle East Adviser, A Coxswain, and Buckley Versus Vidal

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 288 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jun 22, 2012

Kuwaitis Love Our Big Macs and Eventually Our Stomach Stapling

In this week's Bloomberg Businessweek, Peter Savodnik sheds light on two very profitable and symbiotic American exports in the Middle East: Fast food and bariatric surgery. 

Comments | 508 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 21, 2012

Accident or Assault? Syrian Shells Hit Lebanon

Lebanese farmers were likely confused Wednesday evening when they noticed that Syrian heavy artillery guns were firing shells onto their land.

Comments | 425 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Mar 10, 2012

U.N. and State Department Call for an End to Violence in Gaza

15 Palestinian fighters were killed by Israeli airstrikes today in the bloodiest day in that region in over a year. The action has drawn widespread criticism.

Comments | 3,203 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Mar 10, 2012

Al-Assad Rejects Kofi Annan's Pleas For Peace

Talks between the former U.N. secretary general and the president of Syria have so far proved fruitless, while an Arab League summit on the matter elicits a war of words between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Comments | 1,111 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 27, 2012

The Syrian Activist Hit List Looks Like It's Real

Mother Jones has published an in-depth look at a 718-page document supposedly leaked from intelligence forces inside the Bashar al Assad's regime that they're calling the "Syria hit list."

Comments | 1,319 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 24, 2012

U.S. Pledges $10 Million For Syrian Aid as Evacuation of Homs Begins

After the International Red Cross opened up talks with the Syrian government, aid workers started to evacuate sick or wounded women and children from Homs on Friday.

Comments | 1,023 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Feb 17, 2012

Journalists and Readers Mourn the Loss of Foreign Reporter Anthony Shadid

Anthony Shadid, who spent two decades covering conflicts and change in the Middle East as a correspondent for The New York TimesThe Washington Post, and others, died yesterday while on assignment in Syria

Comments | 1,290 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 14, 2012

The Strait of Hormuz Is Still Open for U.S. Aircraft Carriers

With U.S.-Iran tensions looming and Iran's various threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, the USS Abraham Lincoln sailed through the strait for the second time in recent weeks on Tuesday. 

Comments | 1,722 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 13, 2012

Car Bombs in India and Georgia Targeted Israeli Officials

Israel has confirmed that a car bomb that went off at its embassy in New Delhi was targeting one of its diplomats, while another bomb near its embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia has been defused.

Comments | 1,423 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Feb 11, 2012

Syrian Revolutionaries Assassinate General

Syrian rebels have successfully killed the first, high-ranking official of President Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime, as the violence spreads to the capital.

Comments | 5,032 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Feb 5, 2012

Hillary Clinton Decries U.N. 'Travesty,' Calls For Syrian Coalition

In response to yesterday's dark day for Syrian democracy, an outraged Hillary Rodham Clinton called for the international community to join the U.S. in pushing back on the al-Assad regime.

Comments | 2,931 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 3, 2012

Israel Sounds Like It Wants to Strike Iran

In some of the more disturbing news you'll hear about the Middle East, U.S.Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is predicting an Israeli attack on Iran could come as soon as April and right now top Israeli security officials aren't doing much to convince us otherwise.

Comments | 15,413 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 25, 2012

Suddenly, the United Arab Emirates Is Interested in Green Energy

Sustainability probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think about the oil-rich Gulf nations.

Comments | 1,047 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Jan 22, 2012

Please Welcome Yemen's Fleeing Leader

Outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen has departed the country he has ruled for 33 years, and is making his way to the U.S. for "medical treatment."

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Ted Mann

Jan 15, 2012

Israeli-U.S. Military Drill Called Off Amid Tensions with Iran

News outlets in Israel report that a planned military exercise was called off because U.S. officials didn't want to further antagonize countries in the Middle East, especially Iran.

Comments | 3,280 Views

By John Hudson

Dec 5, 2011

Obama Officials Discuss Israel at Their Peril

It's a tough world out there for Obama administration officials seeking to speak candidly about Israel.

Comments | 503 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 25, 2011

Storybook Endings Don't Happen in Iraq

Cartoonist Tom Toles on Iraq

Comments | 422 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 18, 2011

The Cost of Afghan Security? $5 Billion Per Year

The Afghan defense minister estimates that the country will need to spend $5 billion a year on security after the U.S. withdraws its forces in 2014 and would like the U.S. to foot the bill.

Comments | 690 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 14, 2011

The U.S. Is Putting Iran on International Timeout

The U.S. may not have much leverage in responding to the assassination plot

Comments | 2,759 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 13, 2011

New York Times Leads the Swell of Skepticism at the Iran Plot

The U.S. insists its evidence is solid, but experts aren't convinced

Comments | 3,131 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 12, 2011

The Tony Institutions Setting Up Shop in the Persian Gulf

The Kennedy Center is the latest to head to the oil-rich region

Comments | 862 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 12, 2011

There's a Lot That's Hard to Believe in the Iranian Assasination Plot

The U.S. is increasing its isolation of Iran and warning of retaliatory terrorist attacks

Comments | 1,982 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 11, 2011

Inside Israel's Deal to Get Back Gilad Shalit

Around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners will be released in two phases

Comments | 1,897 Views

By Uri Friedman

Oct 11, 2011

Foiled Plot Moves Tehran to the Top of the U.S. Policy Agenda

The U.S. has swiftly imposed sanctions on Iranian officials

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 27, 2011

Don't Worry About an Iranian Naval Assault Just Yet

An analysts calls Iran's threat to dispatch warships to the Atlantic "bluster"

Comments | 14,295 Views

By Ted Mann

Sep 25, 2011

Tony Blair Is Making a Lot of Money

And new investigations by the British press and TV are about to reveal how

Comments | 7,068 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 23, 2011

The Turban Bomb: A Troubling New Taliban Tactic

Four insurgents have hidden explosives in their turbans this summer alone

Comments | 2,122 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 22, 2011

The U.S. Plan to Avoid a Palestinian Statehood Bid Falls Apart

Over the last 24 hours, moves by Abbas and Sarkozy have dampened America's role

Comments | 2,414 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 21, 2011

Propaganda Parade

China Not Fooled by Gary Locke, Zimbabwe Snubbed by Chicago

It's time for our regular roundup of propaganda from around the world

Comments | 2,748 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 20, 2011

America's Shrinking Military Footprint in Iraq and Pakistan

The U.S. is slashing troop levels in both countries

Comments | 2,520 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 20, 2011

New Call for Assad to Resign from Unlikely Source: Iraq

Iraq says Syria has the 'right to experience democracy'

Comments | 341 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 20, 2011

Europe Is the X Factor in Palestinian Statehood Bid

The European Union hasn't expressed its opinion on the U.N. campaign

Comments | 2,426 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 19, 2011

Propaganda Parade

China Channels Gatsby, Yemen Asks 'What Violence?'

It's time for our regular roundup of propaganda from around the world

Comments | 1,118 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 19, 2011

A Guide to the Diplomatic Scramble Over the Palestinian Statehood Vote

Mahmoud Abbas says he'll request UN membership for Palestine this week

Comments | 1,244 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 19, 2011

Yemen Faces Its Worst Violence Since March

Clashes erupted after security forces fired on demonstrators

Comments | 547 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 16, 2011

Propaganda Parade

Cuba Fetes Danny Glover, Syria Airs Chilling 'Confession'

It's time for our regular roundup of propaganda from around the world

Comments | 1,697 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 16, 2011

How Syrian Activists Name Their Friday Protests

Facebook voting and video helps push the slogan to the streets

Comments | 753 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 13, 2011

NATO Has a YouTube Channel Reporting from Kabul

The Taliban attacked the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters

Comments | 3,196 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 9, 2011

Syria Now Too Violent Even for Hamas

Islamist group is considering moving its headquarters to Cairo

Comments | 1,213 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 9, 2011

Deciphering Iran's Newly Strained Relations With Syria

Iran is trying to keep Assad in power while courting the Arab street

Comments | 2,682 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 2, 2011

The Tie That Still Binds Israel and Turkey: Trade

Turkey has downgraded its diplomatic ties with Israel over a Gaza spat

Comments | 527 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 1, 2011

U.N. Report Brings Some Closure to Ugly Gaza Flotilla Incident

The findings may further damage Israeli-Turkish relations

Comments | 345 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 31, 2011

Report: Qaddafi Son Claims Dad Wants a Role in Rebel Government

Saadi says Muammar gave him official power to negotiate with rebels

Comments | 2,611 Views

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